Google's cameras peer into Grand Canyon

Exploring the Grand Canyon usually involves a map, walking boots - and a lot of stamina.

But, thanks to Google, even the laziest among us could soon become the most intrepid of travellers - and all without leaving the comfort of our sofa.

The internet giant is using its Street View cameras - mounted for the first time in a backpack - to showcase the US attraction's most popular hiking trails. On Monday it mapped the ten-mile Bright Angel Trail along the Arizona canyon's South Rim.

Each 18kg backpack contains 15 five-megapixel cameras, which are positioned to give a 360-degree view, an on-board hard drive, and enough battery to run for a day. The images will then be stitched together and should be available in a few months.

The move is the latest evolution in mapping technology for the firm, which has photographed 3,000 cities in 43 countries since 2007 for its Street View feature.

Although privacy campaigners have raised concerns about the technology, Google said all hikers on the trail will have their faces blurred.